“Our enemies could have killed her,” Justice reminded him. “I know this is difficult for you.”
“I can’t imagine never seeing her again,” Fury admitted. “I feel pain.”
Regret tightened Justice’s features and he squeezed the shoulder he gripped once more. “I didn’t know it was that strong.”
“It is.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I realize she’s better off in her world than here. She said she has no home though. What will she do? Maybe I should have asked her to stay. We could have forced the director to keep her on at the dorm.”
“We can’t make waves right now, Fury. There’s a time and a place for everything. You did the best thing for our people. I’m sorry that it comes at such a price since she means so much to you. The only thing I can say is you can offer her a job again when we’re ready to totally take control of Homeland.”
Some of the pain eased inside Fury’s chest. “I want her to come back.” He needed her. To never see her smile again or hear her voicethat concept left a bitter taste in his mouth. A bleak future loomed in his mind’s eye. “I believe she was fired for standing up for us. It doesn’t feel right not to do the same for her.”
“Then definitely offer her the job she held as soon as you’re able to. It won’t be too much longer. We just need to learn enough to do things right. There’s so much though that we don’t know yet. Every day brings us one step closer to controlling our own destiny.”
“What if she doesn’t want the job? What if she never wishes to return? She could find another job out in her world.” A flash of grief sliced through Fury. “I might never see her again.”
“Then you let her go, Fury. You try to get over your feelings.”
Fury said nothing but the burning pain inside his chest spread. He didn’t want to let Ellie go and he sure didn’t believe he could ever get over the emotions he experienced when it came to her. She was in his blood, a part of him, but now she would no longer be a part of his life.
“Come,” Justice urged softly. “We’ll take a walk together. You shouldn’t be alone right now.”
Fury hesitated, glanced at the gate, but knew she wouldn’t be back. He nodded.
“Thanks.”
* * * * *
Ellie cursed viciously while staring at the spray-paint job on her car, knowing that one of the protesters must have followed her to the motel. She’d looked for a tail but hadn’t seen one after she’d left Homeland four hours before. Those assholes are sneaky, damn it. And obsessed jerks. They knew what motel she’d checked into and had vandalized her car because of her association with the NSO. She really hated bigoted idiots.
Ellie stomped to her room, angry that she’d have to call the police, file a report, and contact her insurance carrier. She sure couldn’t drive a car around town with those bad words sprayed in large letters along the side of it. It would make for a really bad impression when she showed up at job interviews. She snorted and gripped the bag of fast food tighter as she fished for the motel-room key in her back jeans pocket.
Ellie pulled the key out and tried to shove it into the lock but something prevented it from going inside. She bent to peer at the small keyhole, her eyes narrowed as she examined what appeared to be green gum crammed where the hole should be, and wondered what kind of troublesome kid would go around screwing up doors that way. The door next to her room suddenly banged open.
She turned her head in time to watch three big, mean-looking men step out onto the walkway to glare at her. Fear slammed her when she realized they were totally focused on her. She released the handle of her door and stumbled back. Ten feet of space separated her room from the next one, not nearly far enough, in her opinion, from those guys, and it was confirmed when the lead man lunged fast.
“We got you,” he gasped and grabbed Ellie when she tried to run.
“Drag her in here, Bernie,” one of the men muttered urgently.
“What the hell is your problem?” Ellie latched onto the railing with both hands while panic gripped her as tightly as the cruel hands on her hips. “Let me go!”
“My problem,” the man hissed against her ear as he slid his arm around her waist and jerked, attempting to yank her free from the rail, “is we got word you’re screwing one of those animal things and we’re going to save you. You’ve been brainwashed.”
Save me? At least they weren’t trying to kill her. That’s something, she thought. The idiots believed she’d been forced to change her way of thinking. She screamed and kicked hard at the bigger man. Her gaze frantically darted around, seeking help. She saw a few people lingering in the parking lot below and they gaped up at her. Someone yelled from the distance for the guy to let her go.
“Damn,” a man yelled from the next room. “People are seeing!” He sounded panicked. “Run.”
The arm around Ellie suddenly released her waist. All three of them bolted the opposite way. She panted, hurting from the struggle, and sagged against the railing. The big crazy jerk who’d assaulted her had been strong. She twisted her head and watched while the three men reached the far corridor, nearly fell down the stairs in their haste, and fled from the parking lot to disappear around the building. She nearly crumpled to the walkway but managed to lock her knees to keep upright. She trembled all over. A door opened and she spun toward the noise, expecting another threat. A woman holding a baby stood there looking pale.
“Were they muggers?”
Ellie relaxed. “No.”
“The police are on their way,” a man shouted from the parking lot. “Are you all right?”
Ellie had to clear her throat. “I’m fine. Thank you!” She saw her fast food bag on the ground where she’d dropped it when she’d grabbed the railing. She leaned down to pick it up and winced at the ache the movement caused around her sore middle. She cursed under her breath, hoped the jerk hadn’t left bruises with his little tug of war with her body, and staggered back to the stairs. She sat down hard, darted glances at the people staring at her, and noticed a crowd gathered to gawk at her. Her heart pounded still from her scary ordeal but she was safe and hungry. She reached inside the bag. She might as well eat while she waited for the police.
Ellie munched on her burger and twisted the lid off her flavored water, glad she hadn’t bought a soda since it wouldn’t have survived being dropped. She wiggled her fingers into her back pocket to dig out her cell phone. She’d already left a message just an hour before with Homeland to let Justice know her cell number but his secretary had insisted on her leaving an address as well. She could no longer stay at the motel since the nut jobs knew where she’d rented a room. She hit redial to connect her to Justice’s office. She wanted to reach someone before they left for the night and her watch stated she only had minutes before five o’clock.
“Hi,” Ellie said after finally getting transferred to a woman who claimed to be Justice’s secretary. “I think we spoke before. I’m Ellie Brower. I left my motel information in case Mr. North wanted to contact me but I’m afraid that information isn’t any good anymore. I have to switch motels. I guess I’ll call you tomorrow morning with the new information. You have my cell number so you can reach me still, right?”
The woman on the other end of the line went silent for a moment. “Why would you change motels?”
“Uh…” Ellie spotted a cop car turn into the parking lot. “I had some problems. I promise I’ll call in the morning with my new address. I really need to be going now. The police have arrived and I need to pack quickly to get a safe escort out of here when I leave. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Ellie hung up.